Book Review – Gone (Deadly Secrets #2) by Elisabeth Naughton

4 stars

WOW, what an emotional roller coaster this book was.

I was so involved in this book, it had me sitting on the edge of my chair.

The author’s book WAIT FOR ME is one of my all time favorites. So I already knew I would love the writing and how well the author wrote suspense novels. But I still wasn’t prepared for the intensity nor how much the topic would captivate me.

Alec McClane and his ex-wife, Raegan struggled with the horror of child abduction. In their case it tore their family apart. Alec chose to drown his sorrows in alcohol while Raegan refused to give up on finding their child. She believed their daughter Emma was still alive. For Alec, believing she was dead was the only way he could deal with the nightmare their life had become and survive the aftermath.

Years later, Alec and Reagan were pushed back together while investigating similar abductions, and their attraction rekindled. Since their divorce neither had really moved on. They tried, but deep down they knew that no other individual could replace them.

Alec carried massive guilt and doubt on his shoulders that influenced all his interactions with Reagan. His concern that he would turn into his father, an abusive and horrible human being, colored most of his decisions since the abduction. He didn’t feel that he deserved Reagan nor Emma.

Reagan struggled with the thought she was an inadequate mother. But nevertheless she believed that her daughter was still alive and kept on searching. For one she wanted to help other families that went through the same horror and for another she hoped she would eventually find a clue about the whereabouts of Emma.

As the plot thickens and it becomes clearer that there was indeed a pattern and that other abductions in that area could be connected. Alex and Reagan found themselves working together. The close proximity and the danger both found themselves in, brought a togetherness that both had missed. The attraction never left, and both acknowledge that they needed each other in the most ardent way.

This book was a nail biter for me. The topic alone had me on constant alert. I couldn’t put it down. The authors way of writing highly suspenseful novels kept me turning pages like crazy. There were twists and turns that I never saw coming. The book was fast paced but not hurried. It had wonderful characters that had fantastic chemistry and felt authentic to me. The emotional struggles the characters went through and the topic of the book were very well researched and genuine. I had a great time reading this book and I’m glad I didn’t miss out on such a fantastic novel.

ARC generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.